The Skinny: The only thing better than beating North Carolina for the ACC tournament title is winning back-to-back national championships. The Blue Devils will try to do that for the first time since 1991-92, when they won the first of Krzyzewski's four titles.

The Skinny: Tunnell scored 20 points in the MEAC title game against Morgan State, including four free throws in the final 35 seconds. The Pirates are one of the best defensive teams from a mid-major that you'll find, which means they can hang tough with much more talented schools.

The Skinny: One of the youngest teams in the country, the Wolverines swept Michigan State during the regular season for the first time in 14 years. Hardaway was voted Big Ten freshman of the week four times over a group that included Ohio State sensation Jared Sullinger.

The Skinny: Has any team experienced a bigger roller coaster? The Vols lost Pearl for eight games this season for violating NCAA rules and misleading investigators, and seesawed between looking great (beating UConn and Pitt) and terrible (losing to Oakland and Charlotte).

The Skinny: After setting the foundation in his first season, Miller has the Wildcats purring like they were under Lute Olson. Williams was second in the Pac-10 in scoring as a sophomore this season, and led the league by shooting better than 61 percent from the field.

The Skinny: After a rough stretch that left the Tigers with the No. 4 seed in the Conference USA tournament, they won three games in three days to punch their NCAA ticket. Joe Jackson made two free throws with 7 seconds left as they rallied past UTEP 67-66 in the title game.

The Skinny: The Longhorns rattled off 11 consecutive Big 12 wins earlier this season, among the victims top-20 teams Kansas, Missouri and Texas A&M (twice). Hamilton is a sophomore and Thompson a freshman, and sometimes they play like it. The rest of the time they're unstoppable.

The Skinny: Oakland has been the class of the Summit League for a while. Hamilton and Benson, the conference Player of the Year, form a dynamic scoring tandem. The Golden Grizzlies made the NCAA tournament last year with defense and rebounding. This year it's on the offense.

The Skinny: The Bearcats have felt disrespected all season, but with a chance to earn some kudos in the Big East tournament, they got whacked by Notre Dame in the most lopsided loss ever in a quarterfinal. Think they'll come into the NCAA tournament with a chip on their shoulder?

The Skinny: The Tigers have only one senior in Justin Safford, and point guard Phil Pressey is just a freshman, but the "40 minutes of hell" style of Missouri means experience and guard play take a backseat to athleticism. And the Tigers have that in spades.

The Skinny: The Huskies are already the darlings of March after their inspired run through the Big East tournament. Walker, passed over for conference player of the year, has been on fire during the postseason. The only question: Did five games in five days leave them any legs?

The Skinny: The giant-killers of the NCAA tournament are back. Bucknell stunned Kansas six years ago in the first round, then knocked off Arkansas the following year. The Bison could make another memorable appearance this year; this is only the second time they've won 25 games.

The Skinny: Allen broke the school rebounding record held by John Baum for 42 years earlier this season, while Moore had a stretch late in the year when he scored at least 22 points in three straight games. But it's their defense that has carried the Owls all season.

The Skinny: The Nittany Lions were hardly on the bubble a week ago. Heck, they were hardly on the map. But after squeezing by Indiana and then slogging past Wisconsin 36-33 in the Big Ten tournament, Battle and Co. are in position to make some noise in the NCAA tournament.

The Skinny: Fisher said all along that San Diego State could have a special season, but few people expected this. Leonard averages a double-double, but there are other guys who can make big-time shots. Just ask Gonzaga. The Bulldogs saw Billy White go for 30 against them.

The Skinny: The Bears earned their first NCAA trip just four years after going 4-24. Much of the credit goes to former coach Tad Boyle, who is now turning around Colorado, but Hill has only built on that success. Among the schools' alumni: Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort.